This Sunday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys (7-8, 6-8-1 ATS, 10-5 O/U) will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, 9-6 ATS, 6-9 O/U) in a significant divisional matchup. The Cowboys recently secured a victory at home against the Buccaneers, while the Eagles suffered a tough loss on the road against the Commanders. Earlier this season, Philadelphia demonstrated their dominance with a commanding 34-6 win over Dallas in November.
Will the Eagles capture the division title this weekend? Continue reading for our insights and predictions.
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Dallas Eyes a .500 Finish
The Dallas Cowboys are aiming to reach a .500 record, despite already being eliminated from playoff contention. This season has been disappointing for Dallas, but they have recently shown signs of confidence. They have a record of 4-1 in their last five games, largely benefiting from a softer schedule that included victories over the Giants and Panthers. Last week, they managed a close 26-24 home win against the Buccaneers, where they were underdogs by four points. Impressively, the Cowboys have covered the spread in four of their last five outings.
Dak Prescott remains on injured reserve, but Cooper Rush has stepped up effectively in his absence. The 31-year-old quarterback threw for 354 yards in a previous loss against the Texans and accumulated 292 passing yards in last week’s victory. Over the season, he has racked up 1,697 passing yards with an 11:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Running back Rico Dowdle has been particularly impressive, exceeding 86 rushing yards in four of his last five games. Earlier this month, he recorded 131 rushing yards against the Bengals and now totals 903 rushing yards for the season. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has amassed 1,194 receiving yards but is sidelined for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. Jalen Tolbert has contributed with 482 receiving yards. The Dallas offense has been productive, scoring 26 or more points in four of their last five matchups and averaging 328 yards per game.
However, the Cowboys’ defense has been a significant concern. They have allowed over 25 points in 10 of their 15 games, struggling against competitive teams and even conceding 20 points to the Giants. In their victory against Tampa Bay last week, they surrendered 410 yards. Currently, their pass defense ranks 20th, while their rush defense sits at 26th.
Dallas averages 21.6 points per game, placing them 20th in the league, while they allow an average of 26.9 points, ranking 30th.
Philadelphia Faces Injury Challenges
The Philadelphia Eagles are in pursuit of the #1 seed in the NFC, which would grant them a bye in the first round of the playoffs. While they have already clinched the division, the team is on a remarkable run, winning 10 of their last 11 games. This includes a recent road victory against the Ravens. However, last week, the Eagles experienced a setback with a 36-33 road defeat at the hands of Washington, where they were favored by four points. Philadelphia has covered the spread in three of their last five matches.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has had a solid season, avoiding interceptions for six consecutive games while contributing on the ground. Unfortunately, he suffered a concussion last week and will not play. Hurts has thrown for 2,903 yards this season with an 18:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, who previously dealt with a rib injury, practiced this week and is set to start. He has thrown for 148 yards with a 1:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Running back Saquon Barkley continues to shine, surpassing 100 rushing yards in nine games this season. He logged 150 rushing yards last week, bringing his season total to 1,838 yards. Wide receiver A.J. Brown presents a significant threat, having recorded 100 or more yards in five games, totaling 1,043 receiving yards. Devonta Smith adds to the offense with 713 receiving yards as well. The Eagles’ offense has scored 28 or more points in six of their last 11 games, averaging 370 yards per game.
The Eagles boast the NFL’s top defense, allowing the fewest yards per game. They have held opponents to 20 or fewer points in 11 games this season. Despite some struggles against Washington last week, where they allowed 368 yards, their pass defense currently ranks second, and their rush defense is ranked eighth.
Philadelphia averages 26.8 points per game, placing them eighth in the league, while limiting opponents to only 18.9 points, which is the fifth-best mark.
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